Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

Congratulations. You have just devised a foolproof way to gauge IQ with just one question. Anyone who seeks eternal life has to be intellectually deficient. If you can't figure out why I say so that just proves my point.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

Congratulations. You have just devised a foolproof way to gauge IQ with just one question. Anyone who seeks eternal life has to be intellectually deficient. If you can't figure out why I say so that just proves my point.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

Congratulations. You have just devised a foolproof way to gauge IQ with just one question. Anyone who seeks eternal life has to be intellectually deficient. If you can't figure out why I say so that just proves my point.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I feel rather that ceasing to exist might feel rather like it felt to not have yet been born - something I once 'experienced' with no negative effects.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I feel rather that ceasing to exist might feel rather like it felt to not have yet been born - something I once 'experienced' with no negative effects.

That is actually exactly right, not existing yet. But the negative effect is the absence of effects.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I feel rather that ceasing to exist might feel rather like it felt to not have yet been born - something I once 'experienced' with no negative effects.

That is actually exactly right, not existing yet. But the negative effect is the absence of effects.

That doesn't strike me as an effect precisely because it has no 'effect' on me. You may feel differently.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

An eternity of torture will destroy you anyway, so there's no difference.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

An eternity of torture will destroy you anyway, so there's no difference.

If it was an eternity you wouldn't be destroyed, lets say it is like brain in a vat.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

An eternity of torture will destroy you anyway, so there's no difference.

If it was an eternity you wouldn't be destroyed, lets say it is like brain in a vat.

You miss my point. Eternal torture is soul-destroying, so you're no better off than if you were obliterated.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

An eternity of torture will destroy you anyway, so there's no difference.

If it was an eternity you wouldn't be destroyed, lets say it is like brain in a vat.

You miss my point. Eternal torture is soul-destroying, so you're no better off than if you were obliterated.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

Those are two very unpleasant choices. That reminds me of a joke. A sailor died at sea and found himself standing in front of the Devil. The Devil said that he could choose from three rooms to spend eternity in. He showed him the first and there was people standing on their heads in dog crap 4ft. deep. The sailor said, let's see the next one, and there was people on their heads in crap 3 ft. deep. Then he looked at the third room and there was people standing up talking in 5 ft. of crap. The sailor said, this is the room that I want. So then the Devil said, "Break is over, everybody back on your heads".

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I have to ask what is the most physically painful experience Perussi has ever suffered, especially where it was not mitigated by analgesics. On a couple of occasions in my life I have felt real agony, and I think a lot of people would choose to end their life rather than suffer that level of pain for more than a few minutes.Would it really be better to be screaming you head off from sheer pain for ever than to die? I don't think it is, not if you're talking about real agony rather than mild discomfort!

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I have to ask what is the most physically painful experience Perussi has ever suffered, especially where it was not mitigated by analgesics. On a couple of occasions in my life I have felt real agony, and I think a lot of people would choose to end their life rather than suffer that level of pain for more than a few minutes.Would it really be better to be screaming you head off from sheer pain for ever than to die? I don't think it is, not if you're talking about real agony rather than mild discomfort!

I don't care about how much the unimaginable pain is if it means existing.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

So death or eternal torture. I'd rather end my existence than continue to exist in torment.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I have to ask what is the most physically painful experience Perussi has ever suffered, especially where it was not mitigated by analgesics. On a couple of occasions in my life I have felt real agony, and I think a lot of people would choose to end their life rather than suffer that level of pain for more than a few minutes.Would it really be better to be screaming you head off from sheer pain for ever than to die? I don't think it is, not if you're talking about real agony rather than mild discomfort!

I don't care about how much the unimaginable pain is if it means existing.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I have to ask what is the most physically painful experience Perussi has ever suffered, especially where it was not mitigated by analgesics. On a couple of occasions in my life I have felt real agony, and I think a lot of people would choose to end their life rather than suffer that level of pain for more than a few minutes.Would it really be better to be screaming you head off from sheer pain for ever than to die? I don't think it is, not if you're talking about real agony rather than mild discomfort!

I don't care about how much the unimaginable pain is if it means existing.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

I have to ask what is the most physically painful experience Perussi has ever suffered, especially where it was not mitigated by analgesics. On a couple of occasions in my life I have felt real agony, and I think a lot of people would choose to end their life rather than suffer that level of pain for more than a few minutes.Would it really be better to be screaming you head off from sheer pain for ever than to die? I don't think it is, not if you're talking about real agony rather than mild discomfort!

Personally pain is irrelevant. Even eternal life without pain would become unbearable after 200 billion years. Probably much less. What do you do once no other life exists? Once stars no longer shine? Spend a few hours in a sensory deprivation chamber and tell me you can face an eternity of utter darkness and silence. Insanity is not a path I wish on my worst enemy, far less on myself.

Even eternal life without pain would become unbearable after 200 billion yearsAnd 200 billion years is just the beginning of forever....

I wonder if people are programmed to worry less about death as they age. I'm not saying old people want to die, but they are not in general terrified of the prospect despite its inevitability and proximity! Once you hit 70 or so, you begin to feel 'Been there, done that' and the prospect of oblivion is preferable to one of infinte boredom. Young people still enjoy the thrill of gaining new experiences so can't imagine eternity as boring.

Of course, sex and reproduction comes into it. Old people have done their bit for the species but youngsters still have to reproduce, or reproduce a bit more more befire its too late. I think I was keener on living forever when I was a child or teenager than I am now. I don't know if that is because I have mellowed or because I have had to come to terms with the inevitable, but either way I don't have the level of 'existential dread' of death I might have had 40 years ago.

At 10/20/2016 2:26:32 PM, keithprosser wrote:Even eternal life without pain would become unbearable after 200 billion yearsAnd 200 billion years is just the beginning of forever....

I wonder if people are programmed to worry less about death as they age. I'm not saying old people want to die, but they are not in general terrified of the prospect despite its inevitability and proximity! Once you hit 70 or so, you begin to feel 'Been there, done that' and the prospect of oblivion is preferable to one of infinte boredom. Young people still enjoy the thrill of gaining new experiences so can't imagine eternity as boring.

Of course, sex and reproduction comes into it. Old people have done their bit for the species but youngsters still have to reproduce, or reproduce a bit more more befire its too late. I think I was keener on living forever when I was a child or teenager than I am now. I don't know if that is because I have mellowed or because I have had to come to terms with the inevitable, but either way I don't have the level of 'existential dread' of death I might have had 40 years ago.

Lol I like the idea. The desire to live is genetically designed to be stronger in youth than in later years. Like our sex drive or our desire to climb mountains. But perhaps it's just a matter of been there, done that.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

This is a fantastic question; would you rathergo to Christian hell or atheist death. The problem with Christian hell is there is no hope of renewal, not even a slim shred of hope. On the other hand with authiest death there is the slimmest chance of renewal in the reconstitution of your grosser body over an immeasurable timespan. That being said I prefer the Christian hell to athiest death for the reason existing is a good when compared with not existing (just so long at it is not in Dante's 9th crevice of malebolge).

However, the alternative of Buddhist hell is that one day you will be released from the eternal torture. It is much worse than Christian hell, but at least there is renewal. So in the end I would choose Buddhist hell because it has the greatest chance at renewal. In fact, reincarnation is found in much ancient literature and is seen as a time of famine from existence where we are reborn into a new vessel. Hopefully I (and anyone reading this) have good karma stored up and won't go to any of those awful places.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

If you want to have a real life example of this question being answered, ask those who commit suicide.

At 10/18/2016 1:45:16 PM, Perussi wrote:Would you rather be tortured forever horribly and never be able to get used to it or have any sort of nullification of physical pain, forever. Or would you rather never be able to think or feel anything again. You cease to exist and are wiped from the universe.

I would rather take the torture, knowing it will never end because ceasing to exist is far scarier to me.

If you want to have a real life example of this question being answered, ask those who commit suicide.